TechUp România: 5.313 billion lei for companies with research and production projects of 5–50 million lei

By HG no. 643/2026, published in Monitorul Oficial no. 699 of 24 August 2026, the Government created the TechUp România state aid scheme. The scheme funds companies that carry out research and development in advanced technologies and then take the results into production, with projects whose eligible costs range from 5 to 50 million lei. The total budget is 5.313 billion lei, and aid can be granted between 2026 and 2032. Applications cannot be submitted yet: the Ministry of Finance must approve the applicant's guide and announce on its website the date from which registration starts.

In brief

• Programme: TechUp România, a state aid scheme for advanced technologies (HG 643/2026), exempt from notification under Regulation (EU) No 651/2014
• Authority: Ministry of Finance
• Beneficiaries: enterprises registered in Romania, SMEs or large companies, with projects in the technology areas listed in Annex 1 of the decision
• Total budget: 5.313 billion lei, on average about 759 million lei per year; the scheme estimates 350 beneficiaries for each type of aid
• Value per project: eligible costs excluding VAT of between 5 and 50 million lei, of which at least 2 million lei for research and development and at least 3 million lei for production or services
• Intensity: for research and development, 50% for industrial research and 25% for experimental development; for production, regional aid depending on the county (Annex 2); own contribution of at least 25%
• Submission period: not yet announced; it starts on the date communicated by the Ministry of Finance
• Status: decision in force, applicant's guide not published as of 27 September 2026

What does TechUp România fund?

The scheme funds a complete cycle, from research to production. Each project must have two components, one after the other:

• Component I – research and development (at least 2 million lei): costs of researchers and technicians, contract research, depreciation of the instruments and equipment used in the project, patents, licences and know-how purchased on market terms, plus overheads. For the tangible and intangible assets in this component, the grant can be combined with a 200% tax deduction, granted under this scheme, which reduces the base for calculating corporate income tax.
• Component II – production or services (at least 3 million lei): you choose either the salary costs for newly created jobs, over two consecutive years, or the cost of new tangible and intangible assets. Construction may represent at most 40% of the eligible costs for tangible assets, and intangible assets at most 30% of component II.

The eligible areas are advanced computing, artificial intelligence, microelectronics and digital infrastructure, biotechnology, agri-tech and precision health, green energy, storage and climate technologies, mobility, space and autonomous systems, advanced materials and industrial production (Industry 4.0), and cybersecurity.

Who can apply?

The applicant must be registered in Romania, have a share capital of at least 5,000 lei and not be in difficulty, insolvency or enforcement proceedings. It must also not have relocated its activity in the two years before the application. The decision divides applicants into two categories:

• Category A: autonomous enterprises that do not have sufficient own resources for the contribution and that attract only private capital from venture capital funds and/or business angels. No additional profit or equity conditions apply to them.
• Category B: all other companies, which finance their own contribution themselves. They must have had a return on turnover greater than zero in at least one of the last three financial years and positive equity in the last closed financial year.

How is the money paid out and what obligations remain?

The own contribution is at least 25% of eligible costs and is calculated separately for each component. It may come from own sources or from external financing that contains no public aid. Advances of up to 30% of the grant may be granted. The application must be submitted before work begins (the incentive effect), and the ministry evaluates it within 45 working days of submission.

After completion, the investment in component II and the jobs created must be maintained for at least 5 years. Payments are made in the period 2027–2041. Registration of applications is suspended when the amounts requested reach 150% of the scheme's annual budget.

When can you apply?

There is no submission date yet. The decision provides that registration of applications starts on the date communicated by the Ministry of Finance on its website. The detailed documentation, the list of annexes and the verification criteria will be set out in the applicant's guide and the payment guide, which had not been published at the time of checking. The enrolment and evaluation procedure will be fully online, according to the Ministry of Finance's SME test report.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: TechUp is not a programme for the simple purchase of equipment. It suits companies that already have a technology in development, a prototype or laboratory results and a concrete plan to bring them into production, and the minimum threshold of 5 million lei makes it realistic mainly for companies with a research team and a financial track record.

• Check your category now. If your company has had positive profitability and positive equity, you are in category B. If it is a start-up without resources, the 25% contribution must be covered from venture capital or business angels, and talks with investors take time.
• Do not start the investment. Any work or firm order placed before the application can make the project ineligible.
• Prepare the research component. The work plan, the team, collaborations with universities or institutes and what will be protected as intellectual property must be thought through in advance.
• Work out the county. The intensity for production depends on where the investment is located, and the investment must remain there.
• Speed matters. Registration stops at 150% of the annual budget, so projects that are ready at opening have an advantage.

You can take the eligibility check to see whether your company fits this scheme or another one.

Frequently asked questions

Can projects already be submitted under TechUp România?

No. HG 643/2026 is in force, but registration of applications only starts on the date that the Ministry of Finance will communicate on its website, after the applicant's guide is approved. As of 27 September 2026 the guide had not been published.

Can an SME apply, or only large companies?

Both SMEs and large enterprises can apply, provided the project has eligible costs between 5 and 50 million lei and includes both research and development (at least 2 million lei) and production or services (at least 3 million lei), in one of the eligible technology areas.

How much of the project does the state cover?

For research and development, the intensity is 50% for industrial research and 25% for experimental development. For production, the regional aid intensity of the county where the investment is made applies. In any case, the beneficiary must provide at least 25% of the eligible costs.

What is the 200% deduction?

For the tangible and intangible assets in the research and development component, the grant can be combined with a 200% deduction of these expenses, which reduces the tax base when calculating corporate income tax. The deduction is granted under the TechUp scheme, as a form of state aid. The exact conditions of application will be detailed in the programme documents.

Can a start-up without profit join the programme?

Yes, through category A: autonomous enterprises that do not have sufficient own resources and cover their contribution only with private capital from venture capital funds and/or business angels. No profitability conditions are required for them.

Official sources

• HG no. 643/2026 establishing a state aid scheme for advanced technologies (TechUp România), Legislative Portal
• Ministry of Finance, SME test report for the draft HG TechUp România

Information checked on 27 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.